His Excellency Engineer Essa Al Maidoor, Director-General of the Dubai Health Authority (DHA), recently signed an memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Dr. Philippe Augé, President of Montpellier University, to provide post-graduate diploma courses in anesthesia in Dubai.

The University of Montpellier is the oldest faculty of medicine in the world and was established in 1244. The anesthesia team headed by Prof. Xavier Capdevila is internationally renowned.

In 2011, the University recognized Rashid Hospital’s Trauma Centre as a training centre in the Middle-East for certain subspecialties in anesthesia. The signing of this agreement, which is valid for three-years, provides a platform for several training programs in the field of anesthesia and pain management to take place in Dubai, thus providing doctors in the UAE and the region with an opportunity to seek training closer to their place of residence and receive a diploma from the prestigious University of Montpellier at the end of the one-year training program.

Dr. Philippe Augé, President of Montpellier University, said during his welcome address that he was pleased to collaborate with the DHA to provide training for post-graduates in anesthesia and in future the university plans to provide further specialized training programs such as pediatric anesthesiology in Dubai.

HE Eng. Essa Al Maidoor, Director-General of the DHA, emphasized on the importance of this collaboration which provides internationally recognized training programs within the Emirate. He said: “We would like to extend our appreciation to the Montpellier University who are sending their experts outside France for the first time to provide such a training program. Continuous medical education is an important aspect of our strategy. The field of anesthesia and pain management is essential and is required across all specialties. The training program provides a platform for doctors in the UAE and the region to receive an internationally recognized diploma, closer to their place of residence, so that they can pursue their studies and continue practicing medicine at the same time.”

He added that the Emirate’s strategic location and excellent facilities provides an opportunity for doctors from across the region to receive internationally recognized diploma in the field.

More than 88 students have registered for the various diploma programs. Of these, more than 42 students have registered for the diploma on interventional pain management, which is taking place for the first time in Dubai.

By the end of this year, 106 post-graduates will obtain their diploma in various subspecialties of anesthesia. In future, diploma courses will be available in the field of pediatric anesthesiology which will be of specific interest for doctors working at the Al Jalila Children’s Specialty Hospital, which is expected to be operation in August this year.